Snow Peak

Feature Story

When I first received the invite for a Wilderness Collective trip I had many reactions, which were, in no particular order: "I haven't camped since I was six" and "I hope the people don't suck" and "it'll be nice to go on a pleasant, Instagram-worthy tour off the coast aboard a yacht in order to roast marshmallows on an island". Our destination would be the Channel Islands archipelago, eight land masses situated over 30 miles seaward from the shores of California's coast. The multi-faceted trip would not, in fact, be about yachts and butler service. I didn't know that yet.

A year's worth of college puts you on a separate plane than the eager fresh faces that've just been let off the parental leash for the first time in their lives. There's a wisdom that comes with knowing the ropes -- like avoiding classes that meet more than twice a week, or where to find grease at any godforsaken hour. You've also made friends (some probably for life) and finally have a say over where you live and who you live with. Craft a smart plan, lean on your parents, and with a little bit of luck your new home might actually be a house. You've earned the extra space, now make it your own.

Obsessive weight-trimmers with less than 10 pounds strapped to their backs are considered "ultralight" hikers, a term as ubiquitous and unregulated in the hiking retail market as "organic" and "grass fed" are in the food industry. But trust us: the following gear truly is ultralight, perfect for those faithful to the church of long trails and little gear.

Driving the iconic, century-old Land Rover Series 1 warrants a look that is 100 percent country -- so you'd be best suited for some rugged but still classy gear that's ready for the great outdoors. We've put together a kit that will have you looking almost as safari-slick as Robert Redford in Out of Africa. Almost.

LifeStraw Go
This thing quite literally saves lives. Dispersed to victims of massive humanitarian disasters over the last 8 years, LifeStraw products have provided extremely unfortunate people one simple necessity: clean drinking water. The same tech found in those

When I first received the invite for a Wilderness Collective trip I had many reactions, which were, in no particular order: "I haven't camped since I was six" and "I hope the people don't suck" and "it'll be nice to go on a pleasant, Instagram-worthy tour off the coast aboard a yacht in order to roast marshmallows on an island". Our destination would be the Channel Islands archipelago, eight land masses situated over 30 miles seaward from the shores of California's coast. The multi-faceted trip would not, in fact, be about yachts and butler service. I didn't know that yet.

Cocoon Slim Backpack
Backpacks hold a lot of stuff and they stay out of the way, leaving your hands free. Thing is, compartments that are actually cavernous holdalls turn 'packs into bulky messes. SLIM is so named for a

Ah, the music festival. Concert after concert under the hot sun, huge fields of camping fans, available yet astronomically priced food, and port-a-potties stretching to the horizon combine for a strange breed of "roughing it" with large doses of civilization mixed in. Prepare properly and you're in for the weekend of a lifetime; shirk the prep and you'll be poor and plenty grumpy come Sunday night. Here are ten pieces of gear -- appropriately fitting the chaotic and not at all fashionable atmosphere you'll come to know and love -- to get your music festival experience on track for "Epic!" status. We'll leave the collapsible peace pipe to you.

Packing for three weeks of travel could easily balloon into roller bags, laptop cases and fanny packs. If you're staying in luxury hotels and somebody else is handling your gear, fine. Bring the sheepskin robe. But if you may have to spend full days carrying your luggage on your back, then you're limited to the essentials. Here's what I stuffed into my GORUCK GR2 for three weeks in Cuba.

Jack Rudy Co. Tonic Water
You dropped a boatload of cash on the gin and vodka inhabitants of your liquor cabinet, so why are you mixing them with mass-produced swill? This tonic is small-batch made, blended with botanicals, cane

After a rough day of solo backpacking and exploration, nothing rejuvenates like a good meal. Unfortunately, going it alone out in the field doesn't always lend to the best of creature comforts. The Snow Peak Ozen Solo Table ($50) provides

The Japanese are known for minimalist design and intelligent engineering; Snow Peak embraces those values in its new Mini Hozuki Lantern ($40). Styled after a traditional Japanese paper lantern just like its larger sibling, the Hozuki Lantern, the mini

Here's a new twist on an old dictum: dissatisfaction is the mother of all invention. This illustrates well what set accomplished mountaineer Yukio Yamai on the path to a superior stove that could meet all his needs without unnecessary clunkiness. His

Camping requires plenty of tradeoffs, but your morning routine is one area where you shouldn't have to sacrifice. Highly functional and highly stylish brand Nau felt your pain and collaborated with Snow Peak to create the Nau luxe

A lamp that utilizes the forces of gravity? Sounds gimmicky. But don't judge a bud (sorry) by its cover. Instead of using E=MC2 for power, the Snow Peak Tulip Lantern ($150) relies on gravity to determine its method of light

Titanium, the wonder metal, is used for a variety of things, from surgical screws to watch cases to bicycle frames. It is known for its resistance to corrosion, its incredible strength to weight ratio and its bio-compatibility. It is also difficult

We've seen headlamps and we've seen hanging lanterns, but worthy combinations of the two? Not as many. Usually because of cumbersome operation. The Snow Peak SnowMiner ($50) headlamp solves that problem through its patent pending design, which involves a unique

Consider the humble straw. Jabbed into a juice box or fast food beverage, discarded without a thought, it is a useful but overlooked tool. How else would you get that last bit of chocolate malt out of the bottom of your

Used on everything from the space shuttle (hat tip to you Atlantis) to golf clubs, titanium is an element that requires little explanation. It's both lightweight and stronger than steel, and here in the form of the Snow Peak Titanium

Since 1958, outdoor gear company Snow Peak has created outdoor gear that strikes a near-perfect balance of beautiful design and purposeful construction. The Japanese company, based in Sanjo City (locally known as "hardware town") is renowned for applying lofty standards